Corvette Accessory Guide - Traveling Prepared In Your Corvette

You Never Know When Your Corvette May Need Some Help

Johnson & Johnson makes first-aid kits in a variety of sizes and prices, and every car should have one on board at all times.

Cruising in your Corvette is wonderful, isn't it? Ah yes, the wind whipping over the windshield; the sweet purr of the exhausts; the way the car effortlessly glides over the tarmac mile after mile. Until something happens to interrupt this magical journey, that is. It could be a flat tire, a strange noise coming from under the car, an alarming indication from one of the dash gauges, or any number of other nefarious things. It's a fact of life-stuff happens. The question is: are you and your Corvette prepared and equipped to handle these interesting little turns life indiscriminately throws at us?

In addition to pleasure cruising in our Corvettes, many of us embark on yearly pilgrimages far from home, with destinations such as Corvettes at Carlisle, Bloomington Gold, the National Corvette Museum, Corvette Funfest, and others. I won't bore you with my personal tales of breakdowns I've experienced over the last decade on some of my 200-mile journeys to Corvettes at Carlisle, but I will tell you that I was more than glad to have a set of wrenches and some sockets with me on one occasion when a u-joint failed during my trip home in a shark. I was a real happy camper to have my cell phone available when the oil pump decided to quit without warning on my midyear coupe en route to Carlisle another year. In the first incident, I performed an emergency repair myself, and for the second incident, I was able to summon a friend with a flatbed, who brought one of my other cars with him when he came to pick up my disabled '67 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

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A rechargeable multiple-array LED light like this one from the Eastwood Company throws a copious amount of light, is lightweight, takes up very little space, and has a handy hanging hook, too.

The Boy Scouts' motto to "be prepared" is really sage advice. Suffice it to say that all Corvettes have a finite amount of space for carrying emergency gear, while some years (e.g., '68-'76 sharks) are particularly deficit in this department. There are also individual interpretations of what "essential emergency traveling gear" should consist of. Some folks have a real adventurous, devil-may-care outlook, and they think as long as they have a credit card and a cell phone they're all set for anything fate may bring. Others are a bit more cautious, and they have a modest complement of tools and other gear to help bail them out if and when the unforeseen should happen on the road. And then there are those who want to bring everything in their garage with them, and, even with all that stuff aboard, they still worry they might not have something they'll need in an emergency.

Who's right? Well, that's up to each individual to decide for him or herself. But what I'm presenting here is a list of items that it certainly wouldn't hurt to have packed in your Corvette when embarking on any journey that's more than a few miles from home. Nobody's saying you have to stow and carry all this gear (then again, nobody's saying you can't, if you want to). But at least perusing this listing will help you pick and choose the items to help give you the warm-and-fuzzies when you embark on a long trip in your Corvette. It's better to have this stuff and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Absolute EssentialsThese are what I call the Five Fs-the absolutely essential items you should always have in your ride regardless of the year and model of your Corvette.

* Flashlight* Fire extinguisher* First-aid kit* Flares* Fone

I don't think you need an explanation of what these items are for or why you should have them in your Vette, so we'll move on to some other items you might also want to carry.

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Corvette Central's road utilities kit contains chemical light sticks, a battery-operated impact wrench and lug-nut sockets, an air compressor, jumper cables, tire sealant, gloves, and a flashlight in a storage case with the Corvette name on it-stylish and functional to boot.

Emergency KitsYou can kill a few birds with one stone by purchasing a roadside emergency kit offered by several vendors. These kits vary by price and vendor, but they all carry a lot of the essential gear (some more than others) that you may need if and when a roadside emergency presents itself. They come in easy-to-stow bags or cases, which make them easy to travel with; these kits are definitely something to consider.

Tools Are CoolYou don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool "wrench" to be able to tighten up a loose nut or clamp, or wrap some duct tape around a hose that suddenly springs a leak, but you're going to need some tools to do even these simple emergency repairs. To that end, it's good to have these basic items on board.

This is all good stuff to consider carrying along in your Corvette when you'll be traveling any great distance. After all, if you knew there was a problem with the vehicle to begin with, you'd have it fixed before you left, right? But that's the point, unless you have a crystal ball and some psychic powers, one never knows. So travel prepared and travel safe. See you on the road and, hopefully, not on the side of it.

MORE PHOTOS

Johnson & Johnson makes first-aid kits in a variety of sizes and prices, and every car should have one on board at all times.

A rechargeable multiple-array LED light like this one from the Eastwood Company throws a copious amount of light, is lightweight, takes up very little space, and has a handy hanging hook, too.

Another essential piece of gear that should be in every Corvette, regardless of year, is a fire extinguisher. This neat chrome-plated unit from Genuine HotRod Hardware is rated for class A, B, and C fires and has a quick-release mounting bracket.

Corvette Central offers a nifty first-aid kit (especially for Corvette owners) that contains a great assortment of bandages and other emergency medical supplies. it all comes in an easy-to-stow tote case emblazoned with the Corvette crossed-flags logo.

This roadside emergency kit from The Brookstone Company contains some basic tools, triangular red hazard reflectors, a first-aid kit, emergency light, air compressor, jumper cables, and other emergency gear-all in a hard-shell case.

Corvette Central's road utilities kit contains chemical light sticks, a battery-operated impact wrench and lug-nut sockets, an air compressor, jumper cables, tire sealant, gloves, and a flashlight in a storage case with the Corvette name on it-stylish and functional to boot.

Mid America Motorworks also has a roadside safety kit with a flashlight, jumper cables, and other necessities in a soft-sided zippered bag that stows easily.

This dual-sided foam mat from the Eastwood Company is a real knee-saver when changing a flat, and it also doubles as a mechanic's creeper in an emergency. It's lightweight, inexpensive, and can be rolled up or stored flat-a real handy item.

A set of combination flex-head gear wrenches from NAPA in either SAE or metric format can really come in handy if something breaks or needs tightening during your trip.

Kidskin leather gloves from the Eastwood Company are great for keeping your hands clean while changing a flat or doing other emergency work on your Corvette.

Sears offers laser-etched Craftsman socket and ratchet sets in a variety of sizes and price ranges, most come in their own storage cases, and they're guaranteed for life.

GoJo waterless hand wipes are great for cleaning your hands after a roadside repair, and they're good all-around cleaners for tidying up under the hood, too.

The bungee cord is a marvelously useful device for all sorts of jobs, and it never hurts to have a few in your Corvette.

One of those things you hope you'll never have to use-an emergency tow strap-it doesn't take up a lot of space but it can really come in handy if needed.

These plastic wheel chocks from Mid America Motorworks give you an extra safety margin when changing a flat on the side of the road. They're light and they stack so they take up minimal space in your trunk.

A portable jumper box like this one by Husky is useful for getting you started if your battery fails. Some hot boxes also have built-in air compressors for inflating flats.

Whether you're waiting for the tow truck to arrive or you just decide to take a little breather on the side of the road, these folding chairs from Mid America Motorworks provide comfortable seating and don't take up a lot of space.

Disposable nitrile gloves, also from the Eastwood Company, are good and inexpensive for keeping dirt, grease, and grime off your hands. Stowing a few pairs in the trunk or glovebox hardly takes up any room at all.